Stranger in the Moonlight (Edilean 7)

“I’ll talk to you later,” he said, then kissed her on the cheek.

“I’ll walk you out,” she said and followed him outside.

Even after the door closed, Travis stood where he was, unable to move, just stood there, staring at the doorway into the living room. He hadn’t liked what he’d heard about himself.

“We’d better leave,” Russell said softly. “It wouldn’t be good for her to know that you heard that.”

Travis’s mind seemed to race forward and to stand still at the same time. He couldn’t figure out what to do. Go to her? Run away? Stay and defend himself? Reassure her that he wasn’t what she’d been told?

Russell put his hand on Travis’s arm and turned him toward the back door.

“Ironic, isn’t it?” Travis said. “I want love and she wants sex.”

Russell gave a bit of a laugh then pushed Travis to take a step toward the door. But they were too late.

“Stop right there,” Kim said from behind them.

Eleven

Russell dropped his hand from Travis’s arm and stepped away.

“When were you going to tell me?” Kim asked, her eyes on Travis. If she thought about what she’d just said to her brother and that Travis had heard every word of it, she knew she’d die of embarrassment.

Travis took his time turning around, and when he did, he wished he’d made it outside without seeing her. He’d never seen any woman with such anger in her eyes. That’s the second person who has hated me, he thought. Russell this morning and now Kim looking at him like he was the devil’s spawn. “I came in here to tell you about me.”

“How convenient,” Kim said. “But why didn’t you tell me before? You told me about your mother hiding from your father, about her wanting to marry Joe Layton, but you didn’t happen to mention that you’re a lawyer and your name is Maxwell. Did you think I’d turn greedy and go after your family’s wealth?”

“Of course not,” Travis said. He didn’t know where to begin. “I just thought . . . I mean . . .”

“Excuse me, but I’m a bit peckish,” Russell said. “Do you mind if I . . . ?” He gestured toward the refrigerator.

“Help yourself,” Kim said, still looking at Travis.

“Kim, honey,” Travis said. When Kim’s eyes looked like they were about to emit fire, he backtracked. “I didn’t mean—”

“He was afraid you’d hate him because of the Maxwell reputation,” Russell said from behind the refrigerator door.

“Yes,” Travis said. “The Maxwell name brings out the bad in a lot of people.”

“Does in me,” Russell said. “Is there any mustard? Ah, here it is.”

Kim turned to look at him. “You’re the man in the shop. The one who was after Carla.”

“Russell Pendergast,” he said, smiling. “I’d shake your hand but . . .” He had his arms full of deli meat and bread. “Anyone else want a sandwich?”

“No!” Travis and Kim said in unison.

“He’s my secretary’s son,” Travis said. “I only met him this morning. I didn’t even know he existed until a couple of days ago when Penny said her son would help me. From the way she said it, she could have been talking about a six-year-old. But then she is his mother. You and I talked about how parents do that. Remember, Kim?”

She was still glaring at him. “What did your secretary’s son help you with that involved my shop and my employee?”

Travis drew in his breath. It looked like his attempt to distract her hadn’t worked.

Russell didn’t help matters by chuckling.

“You want to leave us alone?” Travis said to him, frowning.

“Actually, no,” Russell said. “No Broadway show has ever been this good, but I’ll leave if Miss Aldredge wants me to.”